COURSE INFORMATION

Disclaimer

This course information may be updated and amended immediately prior to semester. To ensure you have the correct outline, please check it again at the beginning of semester.

M14 Bachelor of Nursing

The Bachelor of Nursing is a three year full-time or equivalent part-time course that prepares students to be registered with the Nurses Board of Western Australia. It provides a broad knowledge and skills base that will enable the graduate to act independently as well as interdependently within the health care context. The graduate will practice as a comprehensive registered nurse who has professional competence, and who is responsible, accountable, empathetic and willing to participate in professional activities.

 

The course comprises five broad streams of study:

 

Nursing Issues

Nursing Practice

Nursing Science/Health Science

Nursing Studies

Nursing Theory

 

The program relies on the goodwill of health agencies for the provision of clinical experience. Therefore, prospective students should understand that, under normal circumstances, they will be required to attend during the hours laid down by the clinical agency and that these may occur at times outside the identified semester weeks. Additionally, pre-identified clinical practice periods may change with minimal notice to students due to circumstances outside the control of the School.

 

COURSE LOCATION AND MODE OF STUDY

The course is available by full-time or part-time study on Churchlands campus and at the South West campus (Bunbury). Students who gain a place in the South West Campus are required to complete their program on the same campus.  It is expected that the Bachelor of Nursing course offered on the Churchlands campus will be relocated to the Joondalup campus from semester 2, 2007.

 

SPECIAL ADMISSION REQUIREMENTS

 

Standard admission requirements plus satisfactory performance in a TEE Science subject.

 

Applicants who are registered mental health nurses will be considered for direct admission into the Bachelor of Nursing course and are eligible for advanced standing.

 

Applicants in possession of enrolled nurse status will be considered for direct admission into the Bachelor of Nursing course if sufficient places are available and are eligible for advanced standing. Details are available from the School of Nursing, Midwifery and Postgraduate Medicine.

 

Applicants are required to have computer word processing skills. Students studying online units are expected to have access to a computer and modem. Shared facilities are available on campus.

 

To be able to undertake clinical practice and fulfil their duty of care, students are required to complete risk management protocols on enrolment and carry out amendments in subsequent semesters as appropriate. Risk management protocols include, but are not restricted to:

  • Statement of Federal Police Clearance on enrolment;
  • Current Cardio Pulmonary Resuscitation (CPR) certification prior to commencement of the course, plus annual renewal of certification – CPR courses are offered on campus;
  • Current Manual Handling Certification - courses available via ECU provider;
  • Evidence of immunisation schedule as per the Department of Health; plus evidence of immunity against Hepatitis B, Rubella and Varicella; plus Mantoux testing for TB; and
  • MRSA clearance if hospitalised or worked outside of Western Australia in 12 months prior to enrolment.

 

Students who fail a clinical rotation as part of a nursing practice unit must be aware that the agency providing the subsequent rotation will be informed of the failure as part of standard risk management procedure.  Students will be required to accept this as a condition of their enrolment. Where the student has failed the same nursing practice unit twice, the student shall be excluded from the course.

 

In order for students to gain eligibility to register with the Nurses Board of Western Australia, students will be required to:

  • Purchase a Nursing Medication Calculations CD ROM in order to undertake self-paced assessments and, by Stage 5, to achieve 100% pass under examination conditions. This examination must be passed within six months prior to course completion. 
  • Undertake their final semester (Stage 6) continuous practice within six months prior to course completion. 

 

COURSE STRUCTURE

This three year full-time or equivalent part-time course comprises 24 units of study (360 credit points). Normally students will be expected to:

 

(a) complete all stage 1, 2 and 3 theory and practicum units before progressing to units in subsequent years.

(b) complete the course within six years of initial enrolment.

 

Normal student progression is described as follows:

 
YEAR ONE
Semester 1
NNT1103 Cultural Perspective within Nursing and Health 15
NSP1103 Communication in Nursing 15
NST1103 Psychosocial Nursing: A Life Span Approach 15
SCN1103 Anatomy and Physiology with Applied Biophysics/Biochemistry 1 15
 
Semester 2
NNI1101 Health Issues for the Elderly 15
NNT1204 Theories and Principles Relating to Nursing Care 15
NSP1204 Health Assessment in Nursing 15
SCN1104 Anatomy and Physiology with Applied Biophysics/Biochemistry 2 15
 
YEAR TWO
Semester 1
NNS2205 Applied Pathophysiology and Pharmacology 1 15
NNT2205 Principles of the Individual's Adaptation to Altered Health Status 1 15
NSP2207 Developing Competencies in Holistic Nursing Care * 15
NST2105 Dimensions of Mental Health 15
 
Semester 2
NMI2201 Ethics and Law in Midwifery and Nursing 15
NNS2106 Applied Pathophysiology and Pharmacology 2 15
NNT2206 Principles of the Individual's Adaptation to Altered Health Status 2 15
NSP2206 Advancing Competencies in Holistic Nursing Care * 15
 
YEAR THREE
Semester 1
NMS3201 Applied Pathophysiology and Pharmacology 3 15
NNT3201 Principles of the Individual's Adaptation to Altered Health Status 3 15
NSP3202 Proficient Holistic Nursing Care (Specialty) * 15
NST3208 Research for Health Practice 15
 
Semester 2
NNI3204 Professional Issues in Nursing 15
NNT3202 Theory Relating to Primary, Secondary and Tertiary Care 15
NSP3201 Practice Across Primary, Secondary and Tertiary Care * 15
NST3207 Psychosocial Issues 15
 
* Variable patterns of clinical practice each semester, e.g. 2 week block.

NSP3201 allows students to select a clinical elective of 200 hours (5 weeks) within the semester in a field in which they wish to work following graduation.

 
 
 
 
Disability Standards for Education (Commonwealth 2005)
For the purposes of considering a request for Reasonable Adjustments under the Disability Standards for Education (Commonwealth 2005), inherent requirements for this subject are articulated in the Unit Description, Learning Outcomes, Graduate Attributes and Assessment Requirements of this entry. The University is dedicated to provide support to those with special requirements. Further details on the support for students with disabilities or medical conditions can be found at the Student Equity, Diversity and Disability Service website:
http://intranet.ecu.edu.au/student/support/student-equity

Last Updated - Higher Education: 31/03/2006 VET: 31/03/2006